5 And A Beagle

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." John Lennon

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Countdown Begins!

I have grand plans to knit 8 pair of socks between now and Christmas. Actually....between now and a few weeks before Christmas. If my math is correct, that means I will have to maintain a rate of one sock per week

Kathryn has provided me with some valuable suggestions, not the least of which is to use yarn that is enjoyable to work with. Meet Ruth's hand dyed yarn at Impulse of Delight.

It's a delight to work with in every way.

One pair down, 7 to go. Here is a pair of Embossed Leaves Socks from Interweave-25 Favorite Socks , and coming in at 1 day over two weeks, I'm pretty much on track. Good thing the person they're made for has petite feet.

The next pair are a size 10-1/2 men's....not quite the same as a ladies 6, but they're Spey Valley from Nancy Bush Knitting on the Road, which once you get past the cuff, it's mindless knit/purl. Another suggestion from Kathryn, pick at least one pair with a simple pattern for times when you want to knit, but you don't want to think. Spey Valley hits the mark there.

Here's the first of the the pair after a few hours of knitting. Again with yarn from Impulse of Delight.

Two of the remaining socks will be Christmas in Tallinn, as a thank you for each of the teachers that took the choir to Estonia this summer. Those two stockings will certainly not be in the 'mindless knit' category.

Beyond those, I have yet to chose patterns for the remaining 5 pair. They'll be going to #3 and his friends as a little something to keep their feet warm during their first east coast winter. But I'm putting an embargo on yarn purchases for the next little while....time to whittle away at more of the in house stock.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Travelling to the Past

#3 and his friends have now covered the first two provinces on their west to east journey across Canada.

He’s currently on the Saskatchewan prairie and today he walked around the town of Dundurn, a small, and perhaps at first glance, somewhat non-descript town just off the highway between Saskatoon and Regina.

The significance of Dundurn however, is that this is the town where his Grampa was born.

Today, #3 was able to visit the house his Grampa lived in,see the small schoolhouse he attended,and the beautiful little church he was baptized in almost 78 years ago.

Dad would have been so thrilled to share that with his grandson – I’m so happy #3 could have the experience.

Friday, August 21, 2009

North to Alaska

A little over a month ago, #2 , #5 and I went on a week’s cruise to Alaska. Being that the kids had been doing all of the travelling this summer, #2 and I thought it might be a good idea to jump on the bandwagon . . . . or ship, as it were.

#5 of course, fresh from her jaunt through parts of Europe got to come along for the ride – can’t leave a young ‘un home alone now can you? (Not if you want the house and its contents to still be in one piece when you return)

7 days and nights, 3 ports of call and LOTS of food – a wonderful time was had.

Even managed to hit the local yarn stores in each port and picked up some interesting 'made in Alaska' yarns.

Of course the Regia isn't Alaskan, but it was on sale 50% off, so I couldn't resist.